Linux Mint 16, code-named Petra, will be the next stable edition of Linux Mint, a desktop distribution based on Ubuntu Desktop. It could be released sometime this month or early next month (December).

This distribution’s release track record suggests that Linux Mint 16 will be released less than two weeks from today. And when that happens, it will be the first stable edition of Linux Mint with Cinnamon 2.0 desktop pre-installed.

While we await that release, here are a few screen shots from a test installation of the first and last pre-stable edition.

From the login screen, you’ll notice a few of the new improvements that come with Cinnamon 2.0. This is what it looks like with just one user account in the system.

And here, with two user accounts. Nothing fancy, just a simple list.

Login screen showing entries in the Session menu.

Shutdown options from the login screen.

The default desktop. Still sporting that background.

Same desktop, different background. Go ahead, jump in!

The desktop showing the Cinnamon menu.

The desktop in Expo view. Two virtual desktops or workspaces are enabled by default.

The Software Center has shed its splash screen, and starts up slightly faster than the previous edition.

One more screen shot of the desktop showing a custom user avatar.

Installation images for Linux Mint 16 RC are available here, and a list of new features are available here.

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